The heads of all major UN agencies have issued a rare joint statement calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" saying "enough is enough".

"For almost a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in shock and horror at the spiralling numbers of lives lost and torn apart," the UN bosses say.

The heads of organisation including UNICEF, the WHO, the World Food Programme - as well as charities such as Save the Children - described the "horrific" loss of life on both sides, and demand the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October attacks.

The statement continues:

"However, the horrific killings of even more civilians in Gaza is an outrage, as is cutting off 2.2 million Palestinians from food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel."

The statement adds that 88 people working for UNRWA, the agency focussed on Palestinian refugees, had been killed since 7 October, the highest number of UN fatalities "ever recorded in a single conflict".